Stretcher



M. V. HUBBARD.

STIIETCHEII. APPLICATION FILED NOVA 26, 1920.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 FIGURE 5 FIGURE 1- 8 /f L? FIGURE 6 INVENTOR FIGURE 5 ATTORNEY bled 1n the form of a rigid UNITED. .STATES MORRIS v. HUBBARD, 0F SAN JOSE, t'IAIIIIIlORNIA.v

Patented Nov". s, 1921.

STRETCHEB.

1,396,208` Speoication o1' Letters Patent.

i l Application led November 26., 1920. Serial No. 426,618. To all/whom z't mz/ concern.'

Be it known that I, MoRnrs V. HUBBARD, a citizen of the United States, and resident of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements' in Stretchers, of which the following is a specifcation. l l

It is the object of my invention to pro-v vide a stretcher that may be readily adapted for use as a flexible sling stretcher, a rigid sling stretcher, or a .rigid frame stretcher; that can be quickly and easily placed under lateral tension, assembled or disassembled according to the purpose for which it is to be used; that will be greatly `strengthened in the parts subjected to greatest strains, and that will be substantial and durable inits practical application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention assembled as a rigid frame stretcher.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same assemsling.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same assembled in the form of a flexible sling.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged ,sectional view through the central portion of a side bar.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing method of connecting the side and end ars.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the end bar locking mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 1 indicate the two side bars of the stretcher, each bar 1 being formed in three parts. These partsare preferably formed of pipes ofsuitable dimensions, the central part being a short member threaded' as at 2 2 to engage the threaded ends v3 3 of the vparts threaded as at v6 into a coupling or sleeve 7.' 0n each end of bar 5 is formed a pin 8 having a square shoulder 9 to engage round and square orifices 10 11 in the end of side bars 1 1. Pin 8 is formed with grooves in the end thereof as at 12 and a flat element as 13 is slidably mounted on ba'r l as at 14 and provided with a hole 15 and slot 16 for engaging grooves 12and locking the bars 1 and 5 together. Bar v5 also has a curved plate 17 formed on the ends thereof'.

to engage the curved surfaces of bars 1 1 to more efectually prevent movement between the two bars. A canvas 18 is AShown divided lengthwise 1nto two parts and provided with alternately spaced loops through which pass metallic straps 19 to normally hold them in lixed relation to each other. The canvas 18 is also provided with loops 2O engaging the two end portions of bars 1 1 and to which they are normally secured in any suitable manneras by straps 21 engaging staples 22 on bars 1 1 and passing through loops 20.

In a stretcher constructed in this manner and assembled as described, a rigid frame stretcher is provided that is strongest where the greatest strains are applied, that is, in the center of side bars 1 1, and the canvas 1s quickly and easily placed under the delsleeves 7.

There are occasions where it is im ossible to properly handle a body on a rigi frame stretcher, such as,for instance, in ascending or descending a stairway having 'sharp turns. In such a contingency the said bars 5 5 are quickly unlocked and removed whereupon a rigid sling is provided which can be folded around the body thereby so supporting the full length thereof that it can be carried in a vertical position or at any angle thereto. There are also times when it is desirable to place a body in a sitting posture in a chair, or change the same from a chair to a bed. In this case the stretcher is readily adapted to this unusual position by simply removing the central portion of the side'bars thereby providing a flexible sling, the end bars 5 5 eing removed or not as occasion may require.

It is thus seen that I have provided a stretcher that is quickly and easily adaptable to varied uses, and is simple, durable, and substantial in its practical application.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I4 have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, changes in form, and construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A stretcher of the class'described, comprising in combination a pair'of side mem-- bers, said side members each being divided .ongitudinally at a central point thereof, a pair of cou 11n members for connecting the divided en s o said side members, a palr of cross members for connecting the similar ends of said pair of side members, said cross members each being longitudinally divided at a central point thereof, coupling means for rigidly connecting the divided ends of said cross members, a pin extending from each end of the cross members, and adapted to extend through openings formed in the ends of said side members, and said pins each having an annular groove formed at its outer end, and a slotted plate slidably mounted on the side members for each pin, and adapted to engage in the annular groove thereof and hold the sidefmembers to the cross members. f

2. A stretcher frame of the class described, comprising in combination a pair of side members, said members each being divided longitudinally at a '"central point, a pair of coupling members for connecting the divided ends of said side members,

a pair of cross members for connecting the similar ends of said pair of side members,said cross members each being longitudinally divided ata central point thereof, coupling means for rigidly connecting the divided ends of said cross members, a

pin extendin from,l each end of the cross members an adapted to extendthrough openings formed in 1 the ends .of said side members, and saidpins each having an annular groove formed at its outer end, and a square shoulder at its inner end, said shoulder being adapted to extend into a similar recess or opening formed in the inner side' of the side members, and a slotted plate slidably mounted on the side members for each of the pins and adapted to en age in the annular groove thereof and hol the side members to the cross members.

MORRIS V. HUBBARD. 

